Domestic steam-generating apparatus



March 22 1927. 1,621,736

F. L. MIDDLETON DOMESTIC STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS Filed March 4. 1926gwuentoi atto'z new Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFFIQE.

FRANK L. MIDDLETON, F DARZEN, GEORGIA.

DOMESTIC STEAM-GENERATTNG ALPPARATUS.

Application filed March 4, 1926. Serial No. 92,207.

This invention relates to a novel asparatus designed particularly fordomestic use on farms and the like, and it has reference to a structurewhich is employed for generating steam for heating-water in a boiler, inwhich food and other articles are placed for treatment.

Briefly, the invention comprises a water heating unit which is locatedin a lire bed in a furnace, fire place or other suitable source of heat,together with means for supplying water thereto, and means forconducting wa ter therefrom and confining itin a tank to be generatedinto steam, the steam being conducted from the steam space in the tankto a steam space in the boiler, in which said foods are to be placed.

The features and advantages derived from this association of detailswill become apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

The figure represents an elevational and sectional view of the completesystem showing the relative elevations and locations of parts.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1designates generally what may be referred to as a water heating unit. Itis simply in the form of a substantially rectangular frame andconnecting bars, all of the bars of which are hollow to facilitate thecirculation of water therethrough. A pair of spaced parallel supplypipes 2 and 3 are connected with this member 1, and these pipes are inturn connected with a supply tank or container At 5 an appropriate drainvalve, by means of which the entire system can be drained of water.Additional valves 6 are located in the pipes 2 and 3, for controllingthe circulation of water thereithrough. Disposed at the approximateelevation shown, is a steam generating receptacle 7, connected with thepipes 2 and 3, by valve passages 8 and 9. At this time, I would directattention to the fact that the bottom of the supply tank 4 is on a planeabove the circulating unit 1, to at all times maintain the ,Watertherein, and the top of the tank terminates at a point to the top of theapproximate water level in the receptacle 7. This water level lineterminr tes below the top of the receptacle to provide a steamgenerating space therein. Carried the top of this receptacle is anappropriate conventional gage 11, and a safety steam escape device 12.Leading from the steam space is a horizontal valved pipe 13, which isconnected with the bottom of the boiler 14:. The boiler is provided witha false bottom 15, forming a steam space 16 atits bottom. Leadingdownwardly from this steam space and connected with the receptacle 7 iswhat may be referred to as a valve by-pass 17, with which an auxiliarydra n pipe 18 preferably is connected. This auxlllary drain pipe is, ofcourse, provided with a valve.

7 With the valves 6 and parts 2 and 3 opened, water is allowed tocirculate through these pipes, through the heading unit 1 and tank 4:thus permitting it to be initially heated. Additional water placedintank 4, serves to bring the receptacle 7 to the approximate levelindicated. It is of course necessary to open the valves in the pipes 8and 9 to accomplish this result. If desired, the valves 6 may now beclosed and the WP ter allowed to circulate only about or through thepipes 8, 9, 2 and 3, unit 1, and receptacle 7. The steam built up in thespace 10 is expanded and passed through the pipe 13 when the valve inthe latter is opened and then into the steam space 16 of the boiler,serving to heat water, which is adapted to be placed in the boiler. Thecondensed steam drains downwardly through the bypass 17, back into thereceptacle 7, or it may be con ducted by the pipe 18 into another partof the system. The pipe 18, however, is primarily intended to lead to asuitable source of deposit, and constitutes a means whereby the upperportion of the system is completelv drained. Under this arrangement, theper portion can be drained independently of the lower portion or thecomplete system can be drained through the valve 5 in the lower portion.A consideration of the description in connection with the drawings willsuffice to enable persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates to obtain a clear understanding of the same, and to observe theadvantages and features of a device of this kind. Therefore, a morelengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes in the size,shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, Without departingfrom th spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim. a

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new is:

A domestic fluid circulating system of the class described comprisinggenerating unit adapted to be disposed in a fire bed, supply andcirculating pip'es coiinected witli said unit, a supply t'ankcoilnectedwith said pipes and having its bottom disposed "on a plane slightlyabove a predetermined portion of aid unit, a steam accumulator disposedadjacent to and above said unit valved pipes connecting said accumulatorwith said first named pipes, valves in said first named pipes, a boilerhaving its bottom arranged on a plane substantially even with the top ofsaid steam accumulator, a false bottom in said boiler dividing the sameinto upper and lower compartments, and valved pipes connected With saidaccumulator and with said boiler and coii'imunicating With said lowercompartment.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK L. MIDDLETON.

